LATEST BARGAINING NEWS

The ANCR (All Nations Coordinated Response) - Local 365 Bargaining Committee exchanged bargaining proposals and began negotiations with the employer on Wednesday, May
29 and Thursday, May 30, 2019. Since then, negotiations have been impacted by issues
at the Civil Service Master bargaining table and throughout the public sector.

THE ISSUES

THE
GOVERNMENT’S WAGE FREEZE LEGISLATION (BILL 28)

In 2017, the government announced that
they would not consider giving any public service workers any general pay
increase for the first two years of their new contract. So along with other
Manitoba unions, the MGEU formed the Partnership to Defend Public
Services to challenge the government in court they’re doing goes against
Canadian laws – all workers have the right to negotiate a fair contract,
including their wages.

The
trial was held over a few days in November 2019. MGEU President Michelle
Gawronsky took the stand as the 4th PDPS witness. Economists, other
labour leaders, labour relations experts, as well as several MGEU staff were
also called to testify.

All of this testimony added to the body of evidence placed before the judge,
which already includes 37 affidavits and more than 100 pages of
agreed upon facts.

In January 2020, the PDPS and the Government filed their written
arguments with the court. Final arguments were heard over three days in
February. We are now awaiting a ruling from the trial judge.

THE GOVERNMENT’S REFUSAL TO APPOINT A
THIRD-PARTY ARBITRATION BOARD

The Civil Service Bargaining Committee
exchanged proposal packages with the employer in March 2019 and negotiations
began in mid-April. Almost immediately, these negotiations were frustrated by
the Province’s refusal to discuss wages and benefits and their unwillingness to
be up front about whether or not they intended to table the wage mandate
contained in Bill 28.

As a result, the Civil Service Bargaining
Committee felt compelled to file for arbitration, which allows an independent,
third-party panel to hear arguments from both sides, and determine a contract
settlement. The Committee strongly believes that an independent arbitration board
will provide a fair outcome, setting aside the Province’s unproclaimed
legislation. This judgement has been reinforced by recent arbitration
settlements in Manitoba’s public sector.

After filing for arbitration, the MGEU began working with legal counsel to
prepare the MGEU’s presentation on behalf of all MGEU Civil Service members.

However, in September 2019, the MGEU learned that the Minister responsible for
the Civil Service is refusing to appoint an arbitration panel. In effect, the
Minister is denying Civil Service members their legal right to arbitration.

This
left the MGEU with no choice but to file an application asking the Court of
Queen's Bench to order the government to appoint an arbitrator.

The
union and the Province filed written arguments on January 30, 2020 and made their case in front of the judge on February 27, 2020.

On April 16, 2020 the Court of Queen’s Bench ruled that the MGEU was entirely justified in seeking arbitration on behalf of Civil Service members. In her ruling,
Judge Keyser sided firmly with the union and directed Finance Minister
Scott Fielding to appoint an arbitration panel as clearly outlined in
the Civil Service Act.

On June 1, the
Minister responsible for the Civil Service wrote the MGEU to say it
will be take the first step in complying with the court's order to
appoint an arbitration panel.

However, the Minister also said the government would be appealing the
judge's ruling. This shows the disrespect this government has for its
own workers, not to mention taxpayer dollars. One judge has already told
them they are wrong and instead of righting their error, the government
is digging itself deeper in a dogged attempt to delay the bargaining
process.

Fortunately, the Court order will have effect while the appeal proceeds. This means that an interest arbitration board can be appointed and arbitration dates set while the Court of Appeal process unfolds.

Overview of Bargaining So Far

Members of ANCR (All Nations Coordinated Response) - Local 365 had an opportunity to put forward their ideas and proposals for improving their collective agreement at a Local meeting on Thursday, March 7, 2019.

The Bargaining Committee then worked to pull together these proposals into a bargaining package to present to the employer.

The ANCR (All Nations Coordinated Response) - Local 365 Bargaining Committee exchanged bargaining proposals and began negotiations with the employer on Wednesday, May
29 and Thursday, May 30, 2019.